Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text:  Acts 18:1-18a

Theme: 6 Things God Gives to Keep Us Going and Growing

Notes:

1. He gives us Faithfulness
2. He gives us Friends
   • Paul understood the power of godly friendships
   • That Paul trusted God did not obviate his reliance on the friendships God gave him
   • From Scripture we find no references to any relatives
   • Paul’s family that we see in Scripture are his brothers and sisters in Christ
   • He mentions them often in his letters
   • Exodus 17–Moses, supported by Joshua and Hur
     • God is the hero of the narrative–but He uses Joshua and Hur to
       • help Moses and
       • gain victory over Amalek
   • God designed us for community–from the beginning–before the Fall
   • Examples of God’s design for community:
     • Family
     • Israel
     • Church
   • Paul is not a lone wolf/John Wayne/individualist hero–he relies on the relationships God provides:
     • Silas
     • Timothy
     • Priscilla & Aquila
   • These relationships keep us from the ditches of:
     • Despair–“This can’t be done”
     • Pride–“Look what I did”
   • Regarding friends: “You tend to attract what you are”
     • Your best friends reveal who you really are
   • We often think too highly of our own ability to follow Christ without help
     • Sin and brokenness will both blind us to our own sin and brokenness

Live It Out!

1. Believe in the need for godly friendships
   • You need them
   • Others need them as well
2. Build godly, heart-level friendships intentionally
   • Take initiative–be the first to reach out
   • It is uncomfortable–but it is worth it

References:

• Reset, by David Murray
  • (this book is aimed at men;
    he has co-written a companion book with his wife aimed at women called Refresh)
• 2 Peter 3:15, “…our beloved brother Paul….”
• Galatians 2:11, “…I opposed him to his face….”

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Preacher: Cliff Swanson

Text: Romans 1:17

Theme: Reformation

Notes:

Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the church door on October 31, 1517.

When people read the Bible, understand the Bible, accepts what the Bible says and repent.

The Lord Jesus Christ saves them.

The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 10:9-13, John 3: 16.

Christ gave himself up to save us.

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Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Acts 18:1-18a

Six Things God Gives to Keep Us Going and Keep Us Growing

1. 1. He gives faithfulness
      • Hebrews 11:1, 6
      • Galatians 5:6
      • 1 Corinthians 4
      • “Most of us are 99-percenters”
      • When we serve people, they are not our people but God’s people
        • We are just stewards

Live It Out!

1. Seek Spirit-empowered faithfulness
   • If you do not, you will either quit or trudge along in joyless ministry
   • You will receive no reward
   • And God will not be glorified

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Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Acts 18:1-18a

Thesis: Ministry can be difficult, draining, and discouraging–but the Lord gives us five things that keep us going.

Notes:

Context: Paul’s visit to Corinth–much different than his visit to Athens

• Athens was a city of ideas & philosophy
• Corinth was a city of commerce & pleasure

Paul’s ministry in Corinth was quite difficult–and yet so fruitful.

The Spirit ministered through Paul–and to Paul

Ministry Is Difficult

• “I will show you how many things you must suffer for my namesake” –Acts 9:6
• Some people think ministry is like a vending machine, but it is much more like farming in hard ground
• Those interested in instant gratification will not minister long

Ministry is Draining

• Serving Christ will have a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual  cost
• Ministry is WAY easier if you just don’t care–but serving without caring isn’t actually ministry at all

Live It Out: Why not give up?

1. Because of the reality of the resurrection — 1 Corinthians 15
2. Because God’s strength is greater than our weakness — 2 Corinthians 12
3. Because Christ’s love motivates us — 2 Corinthians 5

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Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Philippians 1:19-24; 2 Corinthians 5:1-8

Theme: Death: To Die Is Gain

Thesis: In order to view death properly, we must see life biblically.

Notes:

“A person is not ready to live unless he is ready to die” –Steven Cole

Paul wrote to the Philippians from prison in Rome.

Each one of us–Paul, Jeremy, you, and me–is expendable
–and yet God delights to work through us, despite the fact He does not need us.

Am I so comfortable with this life that I feel no longing for the next life?

However, seeing death as gain does not mean to hate this life.

2 Corinthians 4:16, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away,
our inner self is being renewed day by day.”

1 Thessalonians 4:13, “…that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope”

The Right View of Life In Christ

1. I am here to glorify God by experiencing and extending joy in Him
   • Not just to experience joy in Christ–but to share and spread that joy to others
   • “Joy apart from God is idolatry”
   • Not to say we cannot enjoy family, work, or recreation
     –but we enjoy them as gifts that God has given, not ends in themselves
2. I am here to magnify Christ through both life and death
   • When we cling to this the way unbelievers do, then what is so great about Christ?
3. I am here to serve others for their spiritual progress and joy of faith
   • God has left you here for a purpose–and for a time
4. I am here by the sovereign will of God
   • Psalm 31:15, “My times are in your hand;
     rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!”

Death is gain because its the pathway to the fulness of eternal life

• 2 Corinthians 5:1-4, “…a tent…a building”
  • Tent: a temporary dwelling [this life]
  • Building: a permanent dwelling [the next life]
    • “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy,
      the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” –C.S. Lewis

Death is gain because it ushers me into the presence of God

Death is gain because it frees me from my corrupt body and world.

Death is gain because it cannot hinder God’s will or work

• We are freed from propping up ourselves or others–apart from Christ–because Christ “needs” us

Live It Out!

1. Live life by and for Christ, without fear
2. See death biblically instead of the way the world does

Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Ephesians 4:1-15

Theme: We Are Better Together

Thesis: God has called us to experience spiritual health together in a local church family.

Notes:

1. Loving Unity
   • 4:2, Unity among believers isn’t just a future “in heaven” thing
   • Unity is possible here on earth, in each local body, because of Christ’s sacrifice
   • Christ died not for persons–but for a people
   •  Our local gathering of God’s people is a microcosmic visible picture of God’s universal, invisible church
   • We meet on Sunday as a reflection of the early church meeting on Sunday to celebrate Christ’s resurrection
     • Acts 16
     • Acts 20
     • Justin Martyr, 150 AD
   • Required attitudes to create unity:
     • Lowliness, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, bearing with one another in love
2. Grace-Empowered Ministry 
   • 4:7, Every believer is equipped with spiritual gifts by Christ’s victory over sin & death
   • The purpose of each gift is service to and in the local church body
3. Christ-Centered Maturity 
   • We all grow together
   • Just as a body’s health is dependent on each part being healthy, so it is with a local church

Live It Out

1. Commit yourself to the spiritual health of your church family through ministry and maturity
2. Commit to building unity in your church family through faithfully gathering and fellowshipping with them

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Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Ephesians 2:11-17

Theme: We Are Better Together (Week 2)

Thesis: God has called us to experience spiritual health together in a local church family.

Notes:

1. God has gathered us together in a Person: Jesus Christ
   • John 17
   • Acts 9:4, “…why are you persecuting me“
   • Acts 20:28, “…the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood.”
   • Titus 2, “…a people for His very own possession”
   • Throughout history, when God calls a people He gathers them together
   • Throughout history, when God gathers His people He gathers them to Himself
     • Adam & Eve in the garden
     • Tabernacle in the nation of Israel
     • Christ in flesh
     • Spirit indwelling
     • Future state: we will be physically with God for eternity
2.  God has gathered us together as His People
   • Ephesians 2:19, “…fellow citizens…household of God…building, temple, dwelling place of God”
   • Christ saved each of us–not just from death and Satan–but for His glory and His people
   • Salvation isn’t about me, it’s about us
   • We are saved by covenant–into a covenant community
     • Those are inseparable
   • “Like every family, we have weird aunts and loud cousins”
   • God made us for community
     • As humans
     • As His people
     • Heb 10, “…stir each other up to love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves”
     • 1 Corinthians 12, “…you are a temple of God…”
       • But more accurately, “…y’all are a temple of God…”
       • “you” is plural
3. God has called us together for a Purpose
   • Ephesians 3:10, “…that the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church…”

Live It Out!

1. Make the gathering a priority
   • Planning to attend church Sunday morning starts before Sunday morning
   • Failing to plan is planning to fail
   • Failing to plan to attend is to plan not too attend
   • Prepare so that you can attend with joy

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